The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-10-07

Concerning the pleasant possibili ties
of this uncertain country many blood
Curdling tales are told of occurrences
in the past, which might easily be re-
peated in the present with sufficientin-
centive. | am aware that to mention
these things is to bring ones self into
deep disfayor, not only with the Mexi-
Guns, but more particularly with GER
tain Americans in business here, who
endeavOr to make it 50 warm for the
too outspoken journalists that he or she
finds it safer to journey northward
with expedition; but since my inform
ants were an American editor in the
City Of Mexico (whose name / would
willingly disclose) and several Mexi-
cans to the manner born, perhaps the
recital of one or two of these historic
happenings may be excused.
A few years ago good deal of kid
mapping was carried on in Mexico,
money having been generally the OBJ
ject Any body of wealth and infu-
ence was liable to be seized in an UNI
guarded moment and seldom, indeed,
were the victims ever heard of again,
unless their friends ''came down" most
handsomely The modus operandi, af-
ter man had been secured and hidden,
was post notices here and there within
sight of his family, sometimes they were
pinned up ku-klux fashion, with q dag
ger, or decorated with skulls and cross
DEMONSTRATING what sum of money was
required to be left within q given time
at u certain spot to ransom their rela-
tive, and plainly intimating that nom
compliance with the demand would
seal his death-warrant When the
money was promptly paid the kidnap-
ed persons were usually released, ac-
cording to promise; but in many in
stances a fresh demand was made, fol-
lowed by another and another, as long
as there was the slightest prospect of
further gain.
One of the most celebrated cases of
this kind was that of General Cervantes,
which occurred, believe, in 1874. He
was q prominent politician, in the
prime of life, belonging to family of
great wealth and influence, and the
miscreants who captured him we'll
knew that his people would move
heaven and earth for his release. Well,
days and weeks went by, and though
the country was secured for the miss
ing man no trace of Inn was dlscov-
cred or was likely to be so long as q
penny could be gained by his retention.
His family spent thousands of dollars
in the vain search, and in repeatedly
deposiring large sums of money for his
ransom, rs indicated by mysterious
placards, until they were completely
impoverished, and then, moved by the
tears of his distracted young wife and
the prayers of his aged mother, the
Government offered a considerable
amount for his restoration. But still
no Cevantes appeared, At last, by
the merest accident, he was discovered
in the heart of the populous city and
within stones throw of his own dwell
ing-under the floor of 4 deserted
house, lying flat upon his back in
place barely wide enough to hold him.
gagged, bound hand and foot, with
several well-sharpened daggers thrust
within q hairs breadth of his body so
that if he should have stirred they
would have pierced him. Having re-
manned long in this terrible condition
he was barely alive when found, ana it
was only after weeks of careful nurs-
ing, during which time he lay speech
less and his life hung by thread, that
he was able to tell of his adventures;
and meantime, of course, the miscre-
ants had ample opportunity to escape.
1t seems that late one evening he
was standing in his own door when
suddenly serape was thrown over his
hoad by some unknown persons, and
drawn so tightly as to prevent any out
cry; then he was placed in carriage
and driven rapidly a very long dis
tance, rs he supposed. Doubtless, the
rapid drive, they having returned to
nearly the same point whence they
started, was intended for a "blind,"
and he never believed himself so near
home. The faces of his captors he
never saw, for they were closely
masked, and they visited him only at
night by the dim light of lanterns.
Having gagged and bound him, they
first talked of taking down a portion
of the wall and bricking him up, leav-
ing loose place where brick or two
could be removed when it would be
necessary to feed him; but fortunately
for him, they decided upon the floor as
less troublesome to themselves. Tear
ing up plank and placing him under
it he was found to be too corpulent,
despite all their erowding, to allow the
board to fit in place again, so q little
earth was dug away to accommodate
him with living sepulchre. A few
small holes, bored above his face, adj
mitted sufficient air to keep him in ex-
istence, and there he remained for
weeks helpless, yoiceless, entombed
alive within sight and sound of home,
while his friends We're ransacking the
world for him. Every night his cap
tors came, removed the plank and
hauled him up, and with the point of a
dagger at his throat took out the gag
and gave him food, and then walked
him up and down the room awhile for
exercise. BY and by he grew so weak
as to be incapable of outcR or resist
ance, and then his keepers forced stim-
ulants down his throat, and dragged
him about for needed exercise, desiring